The Prequels: Week 2

The second week of our Pre-campaign Campaign

Patron Players & their Orders for the Week are as follows:

House Gralhund: 

Lady Yalah met with the new King of the Ring: Yorn the Terror, in a bid to sign an exclusivity deal. In return for the Houses patronage, he would agree to promote their arms and armour as the "Best in Faerun". 

He agreed enthusiastically (incredible Reaction Roll), and she begins to spin up her PR team (for the low-low cost of 20gp - Sowing Rumours City-wide). 

Lord Gralhund's handling of the Houses business ventures continues. Though it is another bad week, and the businesses take a hit as the winter season begins to grip the more northernly trade routes (Work earning 2gp profit).

Urstul Floxin and a pair of Spies hit the street in an attempt to collect on the 100gp bounty placed by Quartermaster Dench, but find no leads as to who attempted to rob the City Guard warehouse supply depot.

2 other spies go carousing trying to target key positions. One fails to make any new contacts though the other is more successful, and makes friends with the Custom Officials in the Dock Ward.

While they wheedle their way into the bureaucracy, another spy attempts to gain a handle on the city's economy. Focusing on the Houses potential business rivals or future partners. Learning that House Amcathra, once a major competitor, have scaled back their weaponsmithing trade to focus on other ventures - Horsebreeding, Cattle ranching and Wine making.

While the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers wouldn't be to happy to have the market flooded with inferior 'skullport steel'. 

The final spy engaged in some hard hitting journalism while working at the Wazoo, their scoop earning them 45gp as a bonus.

While the Nimblewright guarded the Estate, Hrabbaz attempted to train the flying snakes to follow scent pouches. In a bid to get them used to travelling greater distances after certain 'marked' caravans.

Hurv's conversation with Lady Yalah, about what poisonous plants and herbs could be planted on the estate, was over heard by Urstul Floxin and he introduced the gardener to one Skeemo Weirdbottle. A skittish little gnome who like to dabble in Potions and Poisons.

Manshoon:

Manshoon and his Simulacrum spent the week refocusing, planning for schemes to come within their Sanctum Sanctorim.

While Manafrat Cherryport spent another week fruitlessly search for magic items for his master. Urstul Floxin was approached by a skittish gnome named Skeemo Weirdbottle, and passed the name of this purveyor of Potions and Poisons up the chain to his Master.

Then headed out into the city to ferret out what he could on the Harpers. Not a lot was known about the secretive faction, but he did manage to learn that their 'public face' Lady Haventree had sworn vengeance against the Cult of the Dragon. After they assassinated her Husband, who it turned out was one of the city's previous Masked Lords. 

Havia Quickknife and Mookie Plush spent their week as bouncers at the taverns under Zhentarim protection, netting a nice little gratuity of 22gp. Yorn the Terror decided to enjoy his victory celebration, and got absolutely hammered, though he did make to good drinking buddies in the process.

Vevette Blackwater approached Jalaster Silvermane, a member of the Lords Alliance they'd previously identified, and gained his trust by commiserating over lost loves.

The changeable weather hampered Agorn Fuoco's preformance, driving away any crowd he managed to gather. His hat was sparse with tips barely totalling 2 gold pieces. 

Kaevja Cynavern fortunately discovered that the Barlgura the 3 wayward apprentices had accidentally summoned could be pacified in a couple of ways, before the demon managed to break out of the magic circle currently containing it. Namely by offering it the blood from a living (or recently slain) loved one, or alternatively by having all 3 apprentices continuously performing a simple chant around the circle.

Ered Payno, Havi Termock, and Savara Firethorn gathered information from around the city about the various other factions at work within the city, specifically those names of any of the less scrupulous members which could be worked on.

They returned with several names: Savra Belabranta from the Order of the Gauntlet, Dasher Snowbeedle of the Emerald Enclave, Zardoz Zord and Valenthrope Montigue from the shadowy Bregan D'aerthe mercenary company. 

The remaining agents of Manshoon (spies, thugs and flying snakes) were sent out to work as 'pest control' for some of the mercantile warehouses and storefronts who paid the Zhentarim for protection, netting 100gp in fees. 

Although, someone was brazen enough to rob another one of these warehouses.

Force Grey:

With her prisoner in hand, the Blackstaff called in a few favours and receives aid in the form of Ulkoria Stonemarrow (the Gargoyle) from the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, and Valetta a Priest of Gond dispatched from the local Temples.

For aid with the interrogation.

And with judicious use of Detect Thoughts and Zone of Truth, they pry a few things from the slippery mind of ol' squid face. [See: The Interrogation - if you wish to know more]

Afterwards Vajra spent her time basically doing a ton of paperwork (the price required to regain those Favours).

Meloon Wardragon planned out the extra patrol routes required once they received the 'item'.

Barnibus Blastwind followed all the leads he'd uncovered until they ran dry; the Titles sold were mostly ceremonial, and the New Neverwinter fund was a dead end. The charity having been closed up years ago. Most of the items which had disappeared from the Vault after Neverember left could be accounted for, save something called the Stone of Golorr. 

Unfortunately, Saethe Cromley failed to convince the owner of the Item being targeted by the Xanathar Guild. His poor reception led him to 'thoroughly investigating the Undercliff Woods'.

A very poor reaction roll and one failed save versus a Suggestion spell.

Jarlaxle:

Under a new guise, the dashing rogue, Jarlaxle set out to gather a little more information on the Lords Alliance. Discovering that the council which held the decision on whether or not to admit Luskan was divided into 4 factions:

• - Waterdeep {the current Alliance leader}, Amphail and Daggerford.
• - Silverymoon and Mithral Hall.
• - Neverwinter, Yartar, Mirabar, and Longsaddle.
• - Baldur's Gate.  

He further learned that given Luskans prior predations, the Neverwinter Faction were going to be a tough sell, and that most of the Alliance's Envoys were already in the city.

Bar the Waterbaron's Envoy coming down from Yartar.

Fel'Rekt's and Krebbyg's crews hit a couple of prosperous merchants but got away with only half the loot, a total of about 100gp. While Soluun got to sowing rumours in a bid to gaslight one of their allied contacts regarding who really robbed them.

Though through her efforts he actually grew more suspicious.

Two of the Drow Mages focused their efforts on gaining a further understanding of the City, learning Ahghairons Tower was the home and eventual resting place of the 1st Open Lord of the City. The City honours him every 1st of Eleasis.

The Tower itself could be found at the intersection of the Street of Silks and Waterdeep Way in the Castle ward, and was one of the many tourist spots of the city. Especially, for visiting spellcasters and passing adventurers.

The man known as The Captain, turned out to be an ambitious sailor.

A local gang extorted his business, and he is seeking to become the head of the Guild of Watermen to use the Guilds power to force the city to do more to crack down on crime and the gangs.

Unfortunately, his campaign had run out of steam by the 7th of Nightal.

The third Drow Mage, tapped one of Soluuns criminal contacts to find some unscrupulous person to teach him the finer points of the art of Forgery.

A pair of Drow robbed a couple of struggling merchants, managing to pocket a total of 100gp.

Which seemed paltry compared to the prize purse of 250gp the rest of the Drow brought back after masking up and hitting the local fighting pits.

Cassalanter:

The Lord and Lady of the House attended several high class functions, making several new acquaintences (5 allied upper class contacts), and Crowelle brought them the names of two more potential blackmail targets: Bryant Stigandr and a colourful fellow they call The Captain.

The Cult members continued to spread the 'good word'. Making 12 new friends (allied lower class contacts), but in the process earning the ire of 3 separate parties (hostile lower class contacts). Once again one of them was the target of a pickpocket. This time losing 50gp!

The imps continued their crime spree, though 'Ravens' and 'Rats' across the city made off with only 50gp. Many of the merchants had begun to take pest control measures.  

The Congregation tithed 52gp, before welcoming in 5 new converts.

However the House is the victim of a burglary (25gp), all that was left behind was a strange red calling card with the image of a black serpent. The Devils left to guard the Alter sensed nothing of note before or after the assumed window the crime took place.

[Calling card of The Black Viper]

Xanathar:

The Xanathar and his Intellect Devourer piloted skinsuits find leads on a couple of magic items within the City: a Supreme Potion of Healing and a Scroll of Prismatic Wall. 

While Ahmaergo and his crew failed to rob a struggling merchant, they did manage to escape. Nar'l Xibrandas managed to get away with 50gp worth of loot from his heist. Noska, Korgstrod, and Grum'shar continued their crime spree, barely netting 75gp between them. 

Noska was later approached, by the merchant he'd robbed, to catch the thief.

Nihiloor was languishing in the city's prison.

A pair of Bandits ended up streaking through the quad with their new friend (allied lower class contact), and another pair of Bandits managed to make off with 25gp from their smash and grab.

Several Duergar took a shift at the Dark Harvest Market, earning 6gp between them. The other Duergar returned to the Keel Hall, the gambling establishment they'd visited before, but walked away with only half the money they'd started with.

A successful week down at the Blood Pit saw the fighters sharing a prize purse of 350gp.

A pair of Goblin pickpockets made a killing during the bustle of tax day, scoring 50gp. An Intellect Devourer piloted skinsuit managed to steal 25gp from a struggling merchant, the murder of Kenkus robbed another merchant for 50gp in goods, and a gang of kobolds made off with 25gp worth of stuff from the warehouse of a third.

The spy in Force Grey relayed to the Crimelord that the 'Item' was still in the possession of Skeemo Weirdbottle, after Force Grey failed to secure it.

Also, while Force Grey were putting the screws to Nihiloor, the mind flayer remained tight lipped. Even in the face of the Mages and Priests they'd brought in to conduct the interrogation.

It was relayed to the Xanathar by other informants that a new penitent on the Amendsfarm outside the city, was seeking to have their sentence commuted by ratting on the Crimelords recent activities.

What's that old saying about snitches?

[Next Poast]